Integral ventilation bypass dampener and free cooling for air-to-air counter flow heat exchanger

Abstract

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure may include a recovery ventilator. The recovery ventilator may include a bypass door. When the bypass door is closed, the recovery ventilator may operate as a direct counter flow heat exchanger. In addition, when the bypass door is open, the recovery ventilator may operate as a fresh air ventilator.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional App. No. 63 / 781,720 filed April 1, 2025 titled “INTEGRAL VENTILATION BYPASS DAMPENER AND FREE COOLING FOR AIR-TO-AIR COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER,” which is incorporated in the present disclosure by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] The embodiments discussed in the present disclosure are related to an integral ventilation bypass dampener and free cooling for air-to-air counter flow heat exchanger.BACKGROUND

[0003] Unless otherwise indicated in the present disclosure, the materials described in the present disclosure are not prior art to the claims in the present application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

[0004] A ventilator may pre-condition fresh air to be comfortable for humans (e.g., meet ASHRAE temperature standards for human comfort. The ventilator may intake fresh air and exhaust air (e.g., air from inside the building) and provide pre-conditioned air to the inside of the building (e.g., an internal environment of the building).

[0005] The subject matter claimed in the present disclosure is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described in the present disclosure may be practiced.SUMMARY

[0006] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0007] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure may include a system. The system may include a recovery ventilator and a controller. The recovery ventilator may include a housing defining an internal volume and a bypass channel. The recovery ventilator may also include a heat exchanger positioned within the internal volume. In addition, the recovery ventilator may include a bypass door connected to the housing and configured to transition the recovery ventilator between a closed configuration and an open configuration. In the closed configuration, the bypass door may cause fresh air received from an external inlet to traverse the heat exchanger to pre-condition the fresh air. In the open configuration, the bypass door may permit the fresh air to traverse the bypass channel to bypass the heat exchanger without being pre-conditioned. The controller may be configured to cause the bypass door to transition between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

[0008] The object and advantages of the embodiments will be realized and achieved at least by the elements, features, and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Example embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an example environment that includes an RV;

[0011] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate cross sectional views of the RV of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration and in an open configuration, respectively; and

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the RV of FIG. 1 with an actuator,

[0013] all according to at least one embodiment described in the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The ventilator may pre-condition fresh air to be comfortable for humans (e.g., meet ASHRAE temperature standards for human comfort). The ASHRAE standards are incorporated in the present disclosure by reference in their entirety. The ventilator may intake fresh air and exhaust air (e.g., air from inside the building) and provide pre-conditioned air to the inside of the building (e.g., an internal environment of the building).

[0015] Some embodiments described in the present disclosure may include a recovery ventilator (RV) that operates as a heat RV (HRV), an energy RV (ERV), or both. The RV may receive fresh air and direct it in a first direction. In addition, the RV may receive and direct exhaust air in a second direction. The RV may use counter air flows (e.g., air flows in the first direction and the second direction) through a heat exchanger to exchange heat between the fresh air and the exhaust air to pre-condition the fresh air for use inside the building. For example, the fresh air may be hot and using the counter air flows, the fresh air may be cooled. As another example, the fresh air may be cold and using the counter air flows, the fresh air may be warmed.

[0016] In some embodiments, the RV may include a bypass door (e.g., a bypass damper, a damper door, or a bypass dampener) that can be opened to bypass at least a portion of the RV. In particular, the bypass door may open to direct the fresh air so as to bypass the heat exchanger of the RV and provide the fresh air to the building without being pre-conditioned. The RV may include an actuator that is controlled by a controller to open or close the bypass door. In some embodiments, the bypass door may be opened when a temperature of the fresh air is within a particular range of an indicated internal temperature. The controller may control the bypass door based on data obtained from Hygrometers, enthalpy sensors, an integral controller, or a building management system.

[0017] The RV described in the present disclosure may reduce costs compared to systems that do not bypass internal components. For example, the RV described in the present disclosure may reduce costs by directly providing the fresh air when the temperature is within the particular range and by closing the bypass door to pre-condition the fresh air when it is not within the particular range. Accordingly, the RV described in the present disclosure reduces energy consumption while providing indoor environmental comfort. In addition, the RV may use the bypass door to operate as a power economizer to provide improved or controlled indoor environmental comfort.

[0018] These and other embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the accompanying figures. It is to be understood that the figures are diagrammatic and schematic representations of such example embodiments, and are not limiting, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale. In the figures, features with like numbers indicate like structure and function unless described otherwise.

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an example environment 100 that includes a RV 102 (referred to in the present disclosure as the RV 102), in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The RV 102 may operate as an HRV (e.g., configured to heat the fresh air), an ERV (e.g., configured to cool the fresh air), or both to pre-condition fresh air and provide the pre-conditioned fresh air to an HVAC system (e.g., an HVAC return) or an internal environment of a building in which the RV 102 is installed. The RV 102 may be fluidly coupled to an internal inlet 104, an internal outlet 106, an external inlet 108, and an external outlet 110.

[0020] The RV 102 may receive fresh air (e.g., air from an environment external to the building in which the RV 102 is installed or external to a room in which the RV 102 is installed) from the external inlet 108. The external inlet 108 may include any passageway or inlet that is fluidly coupled to an environment outside or external to a building or room in which the RV 102 is installed. The external inlet 108 may include any ductwork, grill, filter, or other equipment to permit fresh air to be received by the RV 102. The RV 102 may receive exhaust air (e.g., air from an environment in which the RV 102 is installed or other air that is internal to the building in which the RV 102 is installed) from the internal inlet 104. The internal inlet 104 may include any passageway or inlet that is fluidly coupled to an environment inside or internal to the building in which the RV 102 is installed. The internal inlet 104 may include any ductwork, grill, filter, or other equipment to permit the exhaust air to be received by the RV 102.

[0021] The RV 102 may exhaust or outlet the fresh air to the internal outlet 106. The internal outlet 106 may include any passageway or outlet that is fluidly coupled to the environment inside or internal to the building in which the RV 102 is installed. For example, the internal outlet 106 may include a heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) system. The internal outlet 106 may include any ductwork, grill, filter, or other equipment to permit the RV 102 to provide the pre-conditioned fresh air to the HVAC system, the internal environment of the building, or both. In addition, the RV 102 may exhaust or outlet the exhaust air to the external outlet 110. The external outlet 110 may include any passageway or outlet that is fluidly coupled to the environment outside or external to the building or room in which the RV 102 is installed. The external outlet 110 may include any ductwork, grill, filter, or other equipment to permit the RV 102 to provide the exhaust air to the external environment.

[0022] The RV 102 may include a controller 112 (e.g., a programmable control) that controls the operation of the RV 102. For example, the controller 112 may control the operation of components within the RV 102 to draw in the fresh air and / or the exhaust air and / or output the pre-conditioned fresh air and / or the exhaust air. The controller 112 may control the operation of the RV 102 based on one or more factors as described in more detail elsewhere. For example, the controller 112 may control the operation of the RV 102 to control a temperature of the internal environment, a humidity level of the pre-conditioned air, or any other appropriate factor.

[0023] The RV 102 may receive and direct the fresh air in a first direction (represented by arrow 101). In addition, the RV 102 may receive and direct the exhaust air in a second direction (represented by arrow 103). The RV 102 causes the fresh air to traverse channels, components, or other cavities of the RV 102 to cause the fresh air and the exhaust air to enter and traverse a heat exchanger in different directions to exchange heat between the fresh air and the exhaust air to pre-condition the fresh air.

[0024] The RV 102 may provide the pre-conditioned fresh air to the internal outlet 106 (e.g., the HVAC system of the building in which the RV 102 is installed or an internal environment of the building). In some embodiments, the pre-conditioned fresh air may be further conditioned (e.g., further warmed or cooled) by the HVAC system.

[0025] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate cross-sectional side views of the RV 102 of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration and an open configuration, respectively, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the RV 102 of FIG. 1 with an actuator 311. With combined reference to FIGS. 2A-3, the RV 102 includes an example bypass door 214 and a heat exchanger 217. The bypass door 214 is connected to the housing of the RV 102. The bypass door 214 is configured to cause the RV 102 to transition between the closed configuration and the open configuration. The heat exchanger 217 is positioned within an internal volume 222 of the RV 102.

[0026] The actuator 311 may be configured to open and close the bypass door 214. In some embodiments, the actuator 311 may cause the bypass door 214 to stay open or closed. As shown in FIG. 3, the actuator 311 may be positioned within a bypass channel 220 defined by the RV 102. In these and other embodiments, the actuator 311 may be positioned on (e.g., connected to) an external surface of the RV 102. Alternatively, the actuator may be positioned within the internal volume 222 of the RV 102.

[0027] The actuator 311 may include an adjustable linkage 313 and a fixed linkage 315. The adjustable linkage 313 may be configured to apply a spring force or other force on the bypass door 214 via the fixed linkage 315. For example, the actuator 311 may compress the adjustable linkage 313 to cause the bypass door 214 to close (e.g., the configuration of FIG. 2A). As another example, the actuator 311 may permit the adjustable linkage 313 to expand to cause the bypass door 214 to open (e.g., the configuration of FIG. 2B). The actuator 311 may reduce energy to close the bypass door 214 when the fresh air is bypassing the heat exchanger 217 (e.g., when the RV 102 has air flow or is in a working mode) compared to trying to close the bypass door 214 without the actuator 311.

[0028] With reference to FIG. 1, the controller 112 may be communicatively coupled to a building management computer system (not shown in FIG. 1), an integral controller (not shown in FIG. 1), or any other appropriate device. The controller 112 may monitor a temperature of the fresh air, settings of the building management computer system, settings or states of the integral controller, or any other appropriate factor to determine when the RV 102 can operate as a counter flow heat exchanger (e.g., a direct counter flow heat exchanger) or a direct fresh air ventilator. When the controller 112 determines the RV 102 is to operate as the counter flow heat exchanger, the controller 112 causes the bypass door 214 to close as shown in FIG. 2A. Alternatively, when the controller 112 determines the RV 102 is to operate as the direct fresh air ventilator, the controller 112 causes the bypass door 214 to open as shown in FIG. 2B.

[0029] In some embodiments, the controller 112 may receive commands from the building management computer system (e.g., commands issued by the building management computer system), the integral controller, or another external device indicating the operational configuration of the RV 102. For example, the commands may indicate that the RV 102 is to operate as the counter flow heat exchanger or the direct fresh air ventilator. In these and other embodiments, the controller 112 may cause the actuator 311 to open or close the bypass door 214 based on the commands.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2A, in the closed configuration, the bypass door 214 causes the fresh air (represented by arrows 216) to traverse the heat exchanger 217. In some embodiments, the fresh air traverses the heat exchanger 217 in a counter flow with the exhaust air (represented by arrows 218) to pre-condition the fresh air (e.g., exchange heat with the exhaust air). The counter flow of the fresh air and the exhaust air within the heat exchanger 217 causes the fresh air to become cooler or warmer (e.g., the RV 102 functions as a counter flow heat exchanger) depending on various factors.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2B, in the open configuration, the bypass door 214 permits the fresh air (represented by arrows 216) to bypass the heat exchanger 217 and traverse the bypass channel 220. The fresh air traversing the bypass channel 220 prevents the fresh air from exchanging heat with the exhaust air (represented by arrows 218). Accordingly, the fresh air is provided to the internal outlet without being pre-conditioned by the heat exchanger 217. Additionally, in the open configuration, the RV 102 functions as a fresh air ventilator that does not pre-condition the fresh air.

[0032] In some embodiments, the RV 102 may include a housing that includes a plastic material, a metal material, or both to provide a rigid structure for the RV 102. Examples of the metal material include galvanized metal, stainless steel, or any other appropriate type of metal.

[0033] Although the bypass door 214 and the bypass channel 220 are described in conjunction with a counter flow heat exchanger, the bypass door 214 and the bypass channel 220 may be implemented with any appropriate type of heat exchanger. For example, the bypass door 214 and the bypass channel 220 may be implemented with a condensate heat exchanger, furnace, an air conditioning unit, or any other appropriate heat exchanger.

[0034] In some embodiments, the actuator 311 may include a return spring (not shown) configured to close the bypass door 214 in a default state. For example, the actuator 311 may stop functioning properly or as intended and the return spring may transition to the default state to cause the bypass door 214 to remain closed based on the actuator 311 not functioning as intended.

[0035] In some embodiments, the RV 102 may include an insulating pad (not shown) connected to the bypass door 214. The insulating pad may at least partially seal the bypass door 214 with the housing of the RV when the bypass door 214 is closed. The insulating pad may include an R-value that reduces thermal losses, reduce air flow restriction, or both.

[0036] In some embodiments, the bypass door 214 may be sized, shaped, or both such that the bypass door 214 mates with a corresponding opening of the housing. For example, the bypass door 214 may include a particular shape or a particular size to mate with the corresponding opening to create an air seal when the bypass door 214 is closed. In other embodiments, the bypass door 214 may include a flat shape.

[0037] As used in the present disclosure, terms used in the present disclosure and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including, but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to,” etc.).

[0038] Additionally, if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., “a” and / or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations.

[0039] In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” or “one or more of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended to include A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together, etc.

[0040] Further, any disjunctive word or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” should be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

[0041] All examples and conditional language recited in the present disclosure are intended for pedagogical objectives to aid the reader in understanding the present disclosure and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A recovery ventilator comprising a bypass door, wherein:when the bypass door is closed, the recovery ventilator operates as a direct counter flow heat exchanger; andwhen the bypass door is open, the recovery ventilator operates as a fresh air ventilator.

2. The recovery ventilator of claim 1, wherein:the recovery ventilator comprises a heat exchanger within an internal volume of the recovery ventilator; andwhen the recovery ventilator operates as the fresh air ventilator, the bypass door causes fresh air to bypass at least one of the internal volume or the heat exchanger.

3. The recovery ventilator of claim 1, wherein when the recovery ventilator operates as the fresh air ventilator, the recovery ventilator does not pre-condition fresh air.

4. The recovery ventilator of claim 1 comprising an actuator configured to close the bypass door and cause the bypass door to stay closed.

5. The recovery ventilator of claim 4, wherein the actuator is positioned within an internal volume of the recovery ventilator.

6. The recovery ventilator of claim 4, wherein the actuator is positioned on an external surface of the recovery ventilator and includes a return spring configured to cause the bypass door to remain closed.

7. The recovery ventilator of claim 4 comprising a spring configured to close the bypass door if the actuator is not functioning properly.

8. The recovery ventilator of claim 4, wherein the actuator comprises at least one of an adjustable or a fixed linkage to close or open the bypass door when the recovery ventilator is operating.

9. The recovery ventilator of claim 1 comprising an insulating pad configured to at least partially seal the bypass door, the insulating pad comprising an R-value that reduces thermal losses through the bypass door and reducesss air flow restriction.

10. The recovery ventilator of claim 1, wherein the bypass door comprises at least one of:a particular size or a particular shape to mate with a body of the recovery ventilator to create an air seal; ora flat shape.

11. The recovery ventilator of claim 1, comprising a controller communicatively coupled to a building management computer system, wherein the controller controls the bypass door based on commands issued by the building management computer system.

12. A system comprising:a recovery ventilator comprising:a housing defining an internal volume and a bypass channel;a heat exchanger positioned within the internal volume;a bypass door connected to the housing and configured to transition the recovery ventilator between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein:in the closed configuration, the bypass door causes fresh air received from an external inlet to traverse the heat exchanger to pre-condition the fresh air; andin the open configuration, the bypass door permits the fresh air to traverse the bypass channel to bypass the heat exchanger without being pre-conditioned; anda controller configured to cause the bypass door to transition between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the recovery ventilator further comprises an actuator configured to open and close the bypass door.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:the actuator comprises an adjustable linkage and a fixed linkage; andthe adjustable linkage applies a force on the bypass door via the fixed linkage to transition the bypass door between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:the actuator is positioned within the bypass channel defined by the housing; andpositioning the actuator within the bypass channel causes fresh air traversing the bypass channel to flow around the actuator and between the external inlet and an internal outlet of the recovery ventilator.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller controls the bypass door based on at least one of a temperature or a humidity level of the fresh air.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein in the closed configuration, the bypass door causes the fresh air to traverse the heat exchanger in a counter flow with exhaust air received from an internal inlet.

18. The system of claim 12 comprising an actuator and a return spring configured to cause the bypass door to transition to the closed configuration when the actuator is not functioning as intended.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the housing comprises at least one of a plastic, a galvanized metal, or a stainless steel.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the external inlet comprises at least one of a ductwork, a grill, or a filter.

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